Graduation from high school is a real accomplishment. It is the culmination of years of study and responsibility, and is a yardstick for fulfilling future potential. When a youth drops out of school he or she limits his or her future quality of life. What people do not understand, however, is the degree of that limitation, as well as the degree to which it impacts upon their family and community.
Graduation Rates
According to “The High Cost of High School Dropouts, What the Nation Pays for Inadequate High Schools”, Issue Brief, Alliance for Excellent Education, October 2007, almost seven thousand students dropout from school every day. Annually, it is estimated that up to 1.2 million students will not graduate from high school with their peers. Nearly one-third of all public high school students, and nearly one half of all African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans, fail to graduate from public high school with their class.
Impact on the Student
A student who fails to graduate from high school experiences a tremendous loss of income over a lifetime. According to “Grad Nation, A Guidebook to Help Communities Solve the Dropout Problem” (commissioned by America’s Promise Alliance, February 2009), their estimate places this at $250,000 less than a high school graduate would make, and $1 million less than a college graduate makes.
Drop outs have a more difficult time finding a job, and a greater tendency for unemployment and chronic and cyclical unemployment. Because of significantly lower earning potential, they have a higher incidence of living in poverty than graduates. They may live in poor neighborhoods, neighborhoods with poor schools, with high crime rates, and a lower quality of housing. They may have less medical and dental care. Those who drop out may also tend to have children who have less aspiration for education, or drop out themselves.
Impact on the Community
The community is also negatively affected by drop outs, especially when the rates are high. Such a community sees higher crime rates, especially delinquency and drug related crime. They may experience other high risk behaviors such as alcohol abuse, drug use, and sexual activity. Specific communities may also see a decrease in property values, which can ultimately lead to homes which are poorly maintained, urban blight, and a transient neighborhood.
Impact on Business
Businesses need skilled workers. If drop outs are unprepared for the demands of 21st century jobs, businesses lose their most important resource – skilled labor. Businesses have to invest additional money for training or for replacement costs due to high attrition, and even higher property tax rates in these areas to compensate for decreasing home values. These businesses may have higher costs, suffer lower profit margins, and ultimately relocate outside that region – denying an important job resource to that community.
Impact on Government
Dropping out of school results in a loss of income taxes to government as high as $60,000 per drop out (“Labor Market Consequences of an Inadequate Education”, Symposium on the Social Costs of Inadequate Education, Cecilia E. Rouse, Teachers College Columbia University, October 2005.) It results in increased social service expenditures and increased public safety costs. One estimate shows that improved graduation rates would yield a savings of approximately 10 billion dollars for food stamps, housing assistance and aid to the needy, and up to 17 billion dollars for Medicaid and health care expenses.
General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
According to the American Council on Education, more than 17 million people have earned their General Equivalency Diploma (GED) since the program began in 1942. A GED is a viable option in lieu of high school graduation, however, GED recipients do not earn as much as high school graduates – although they do earn more than those without the credential. But the GED does have “secondary” status. Given two job applicants, one with a high school diploma and one with a GED, an employer tends to hire the graduate.
Quality of Life
Graduation from high school is a projection of the measure of future success for a youth. It is an accomplishment and prepares one for a “coming of age” into adulthood with adult responsibilities. Dropping out of school has negative repercussions for both the student, his or her family, the business sector, and the entire community. One drop out is too many. Just a 5 percent rise in the graduation rate would save about 5 billion dollars annually by reducing government services (“Saving Futures, Saving Dollars: The Impact of Education on Crime Reduction and Earnings”, Alliance for Excellent Education, Washington, DC, 2006.) In this regard it is incumbent upon the entire community, not just parents, to strive together to keep students in school and help them graduate. This is critical to help improve the quality of life for thousands of youth and families as well as for all of society.
Resources
The High Cost of High School Dropouts
Nelson Acquilano - Nelson Acquilano holds an A.A.S. in Police Science, a B.S. in both Political Science and Criminal Justice, a Master of Social Work Degree ...
